1. Bus – Penang to Kota Bharu
2. Flight – Penang to Kota Bharu
3. Taxi – Penang to Kota Bharu
🎫 Book a Tour in Penang
🎫 Book Tickes do K.Bharu
From Penang to Kota Bharu (Kelantan) you can travel by bus, plane, taxi.
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- Kota Bharu, located approximately 350 km from Penang in Malaysia, offers three primary ways of reaching this destination from Penang: by bus, direct flight, or private taxi/car. There is no railway connection between Penang and Kota Bharu, making bus, car, or plane the only viable options. For budget-conscious travelers, taking a tourist bus is the most economical choice, with tickets priced at approximately $9-11 and a travel time of around 7 hours.
- Alternatively, occasional cheap direct flights are available from Penang to Kota Bharu, offering the quickest and most comfortable transfer option, with a flight duration of just 1 hour and prices ranging from $50-100 per person. Easily book and purchase bus tickets or direct flights from Penang to Kota Bharu online to streamline your travel arrangements. Once in Kota Bharu, visitors can explore other destinations such as Kuala Lumpur by tourist bus, KTM train via Gemas, or by booking a direct flight.
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- Another option for traveling to Kota Bharu from Penang or Butterworth is by private taxi/car. The cost of a private taxi to Kota Bharu from Penang Island ranges from $140-180 per car, with a travel time of approximately 5 hours. While there is no direct railway connection from Penang or Butterworth to Kota Bharu, travelers can opt for a train journey via Kuala Lumpur and Gemas, although this route significantly increases travel time. Therefore, traveling directly by tourist bus from Penang Island is often preferred. Kota Bharu, the state capital of Kelantan, offers a less touristy atmosphere compared to other destinations in Malaysia, such as Penang, which may appeal to some travelers.
- Tourists often visit Kota Bharu in Kelantan before continuing their journey to the nearby Perhentian Islands. The city boasts numerous palaces, museums, markets, and historic buildings, providing ample opportunities for exploration. With a travel distance of approximately 350 km by land from Penang, Kota Bharu is a key transportation hub in northern Malaysia. Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, located about 7 km north of the city, offers direct flights from Penang to Kota Bharu, making it a popular travel route. Additionally, travelers can use Kota Bharu as a gateway to destinations such as Perhentian Islands and Redang Island via Kuala Terengganu.
| Transfer Mode – Penang to Kota Bharu: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Bus | 7 hours | $9-11/pp |
| Plane (direct flights) | 1 hour | $50-100/pp |
| Private Taxi | 5 hours | $140-180/car |
How to get from Penang to Kota Bharu?
1. BUS from Penang to Kota Bharu
The most used cheap transport option from Penang to Kota Bharu in Kelantan is a bus transfer. There is no railway between these places, except that you would travel by train via Kuala Lumpur and Gemas, so most travelers will use bus connections. The disadvantage of this option is that the bus schedule is very limited and there are only a few connections between these places each day.
A bus transfer from Penang to Kota Bharu costs about $9-11/pp, these prices are roughly the same throughout the year. For bus transfer to Kota Bharu in Kelantan from Penang, you can use modern seater buses of Ekspres Mutiara, Ekspres Perdana and Queen Express.
Buses from these companies depart from Terminal Bus Sungai Nibong or Penang Sentral (+Butterworth) and arrive at Bus Terminal Kota Bharu, Terminal Lembah Sireh or Pasir Tumboh SMK Long Gafar. The most used transit station is the Kota Bharu Bus Terminal, which is located in the center of the city, so everything is within easy reach from there.
You will see this information and instructions about departures, arrivals and other information when searching for tickets online, so read everything carefully. The journey by bus from Penang to Kota Bharu takes about 7 hours, which usually includes other stops along the way.
However, keep in mind that buses may also be late, so the exact travel time may not be observed. You can search and buy bus tickets to Kota Bharu from Penang online in advance, read the ticket instructions when booking and follow all company instructions. Bus transfer to Kota Bharu from Penang or Butterworth is mainly sought after by regular solo low-cost travelers who have a more limited budget for their travel.
2. FLIGHTS from Penang to Kota Bharu
The most convenient, fastest, but at the same time more expensive transfer option from Penang to Kota Bharu is a direct air connection, or a flight with a transfer in, for example, Kuala Lumpur. The disadvantage of this option is the very limited flight schedule of direct flights, so first it is advisable to research whether flights are even available.
Air connections from Penang to Kota Bharu are offered by Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia or Firefly. Flights are operated from Penang International Airport to Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Bharu. Penang International Airport is located about 20 km south of the city of Georgetown in Penang and you can get here by bus or private car/taxi in about 30 minutes.
A direct flight to Kota Bharu from Penang takes about 1 hour, but if you include the transfer to Penang airport and the wait before departure, the total transfer time can be up to 4-5 hours. However, flights with a transfer in, for example, Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, can take longer.
Flights from Penang to Kota Bharu cost between $50-100/pp, prices may vary slightly throughout the year and seasons. You can easily search and buy tickets to Kota Bharu from Penang online well in advance. Always read all flight instructions from the airline and follow any conditions that the airlines state.
Air transfer is the most convenient transport option, but direct flights are rather limited, so you only have to fly with a transfer in Kuala Lumpur. However, connecting flights can take longer, so it’s a good idea to search for flights in advance.
3. PRIVATE TAXI / CAR from Penang to Kota Bharu
An alternative and more expensive transfer option from Penang to Kota Bharu is a private car/taxi transfer with a driver. This can be the most expensive transport option and is best pre-arranged in Penang. A private chauffeur driven car from Penang to Kota Bharu can take around 5-6 hours and cost around $140-200/car depending on the type of car you choose.
A private car/taxi transfer to Kota Bharu from Penang is a more convenient option than traveling by bus. However, private transfer between these places may be more limited, so it is better to first look for a suitable transport operator in Penang and take this option as an alternative.
This transfer option is not suitable for low-cost travelers, as it is usually the most expensive transport option. However, if you are traveling in a group of several people, for example, you can book a car for several people and then calculate the fare per individual.
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❓ FAQ – Travel route from Penang to Kota Bharu:
1. How to book bus tickets or flights from Penang to Kota Bharu?
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- You can book e-tickets/flights from Penang to Kota Bharu on 12go.asia ➜.
- It is also to change your travel route, e.g. Penang > Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur > Kota Bharu…
2. What is the travel time from Penang to Kota Bharu?
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- Travel by tourist bus from Penang to Kota Bharu takes about 7 hours.
- Travel by plane (direct flights) from Penang to Kota Bharu takes about 1 hour.
- Travel by private taxi from Penang to Kota Bharu takes about 5-6 hours.
3. How much does it cost to travel from Penang to Kota Bharu?
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- Travel by tourist bus from Penang to Kota Bharu costs about $9-11/pp.
- Travel by plane (direct flights) from Penang to Kota Bharu costs about $50-100/pp.
- Travel by private taxi from Penang to Kota Bharu costs about $140-200/pp.
4. What is the travel distance from Penang to Kota Bharu?
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- Travel distance from Penang to Kota Bharu is about 350 km by bus or about 300 km by plane.
5. Is there a direct train from Penang to Kota Bharu?
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- There is no train from Penang to Kota Bharu. The only way how to get to Kota Bharu from Penang is to travel by bus or plane if you do not have your own private car/vehicle. You can check current Malaysia Railway Map.
6. Is it possible to travel by train from Penang to Kota Bharu?
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- Teoretically it is possible to travel by KTM train to Kota Bharu from Penang via Kuala Lumpur. But you have to travel by KTM train from Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur and from Kuala Lumpur you can travel by train to Gemas and from Gemas to Kota Bharu. Transfer by train via Kuala Lumpur takes a lot of time, it is better to travel by tourist bus.
7. What is the best way of getting to Kota Bharu from Penang?
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- The best way of transport from Penang to Kota Bharu in Kelantan is to travel by plane. Direct flight to Kota Bharu takes only about 1 hour. It is also the most fastest and comfortable way of transfer.
8. What is the cheapest option of transfer to Kota Bharu from Penang?
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- The most cheapest way of transport from Penang to Kota Bharu is to travel by tourist bus. The most cheapest bus tickets to Kota Bharu from Penang start already at $9/pp
9. Where you can also travel from Penang?
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- If you are already in Penang you should definitely to travel by plane or ferry to Langkawi. It is very nice tourist island, one of the most beautiful in Malaysia. Another option is to travel to the capital of Malaysia, by tourist bus, train of KTM Berhad, private car or plane – direct flight to Kuala Lumpur. You can also travel to Kuala Terengganu.
10. Where to stay in Kota Bharu?
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- Kota Bharu has various accommodation facilities, there are cheap hotels, guesthouses and a few modern luxury hotels. You can search and book your accommodation in Kota Bharu online: Book hotel in Kota Bharu.
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🚍 Bus Schedule / Timetable – Penang to Kota Bharu + Bus Tickets:
FULL UPDATED SCHEDULE – CLICK HERE
Bus Schedule - Penang to Kota Bharu | Departs in Penang | Arrival - Kota Bharu | Bus Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
Ekspres Mutiara | 09:00 | 15:54 | From $9 |
Ekspres Mutiara | 21:00 | 03:54 | From $9 |
Ekspres Perdana | 09:00 | 15:54 | From $9 |
Ekspres Perdana | 20:30 | 03:24 | From $9 |
Ekspres Perdana | 21:00 | 03:54 | From $9 |
Queen Express | 21:00 | 03:54 | From $9 |
✈️ Flight Schedule (Direct Flights) – Penang to Kota Bharu + Airlines:
Flight Schedule - Penang to Kota Bharu | Departs in Penang | Arrival in Kota Bharu |
|---|---|---|
Firefly | 08:15 | 09:10 |
Malaysia Airlines | 06:35 | 15:45 |
Malaysia Airlines | 08:15 | 09:10 |
AirAsia | 12:55 | 13:55 |
BOOK your HOTEL in Kota Bharu ➜